Marseille in talks to add third Newcastle summer signing

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Florian Thauvin signed on for Marseille yesterday, the Ligue 1 club agreeing an initial loan arrangement which includes a clause ensuring a permanent deal (just over £9m) once the winger makes a certain number of appearances.

This follows the French club’s capture of Remy Cabella on a similar arrangement, although rather bizarrely neither club has officially announced it themselves, despite the player being named in the Marseille squad and not Newcastle’s.

Now Marseille are set to make it three signings from Newcastle United this summer, with talks taking place for the capture of Henri Saivet.

La Provence say that talks are ongoing between Newcastle United officials and Marseille’s Director of Football Gunter Jacob, with the Ligue 1 club hoping to conclude a deal quickly, so that Henri Saivet will be able to be involved in their opening match of the season against Toulouse on Sunday 14 August.

It was Gunter Jacob who sealed the deal on Florian Thauvin, so no doubt those talks also included progress on a potential deal for Saivet as well.

The player Newcastle signed from Bordeaux may not have been the most expensive Graham Carr signing but he is certainly one of the most puzzling and most costly.

January saw Newcastle desperate for both defenders and strikers but instead Graham Carr bought three players across the middle of the pitch, with Henri Saivet one of those for £5m from Bordeaux.

Looking out of his depth, Saivet made only two Premier League starts and Rafa Benitez didn’t give him a single minute on the pitch once he took over from the clueless Steve McClaren.

The only understanding from some fans was that Henri Saivet must be some kind of replacement for Cheick Tiote but with the likes of Colback, Anita, Shelvey and even Tiote still at the club after the January window ended, this was surely the most pointless signing ever.

Rafa Benitez has now added both Hayden and Diame who play in centre of midfield, plus Ciaran Clark can also play there.

Fingers crossed that this is another player that can be shifted and another positive for Rafa Benitez as he continues to reshape the squad, moving out players who don’t want to be here or who just aren’t good enough.

About the author

Graham Porter

Staff Writer - Did the Entertainers period really happen? Love Newcastle but hate the endless off the field politics - the fans United, will never be defeated.